And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. (Isaiah 35:8 KJV)

Many have grown weary while traveling on the highway of Holiness! It’s a long straight & narrow road that is far less traveled in our world today. The spirit of the age has caused many to take the exit routes into the world of compromise and ecumenicalism. Because they carried outer Holiness with no inner Holiness for so long, the weight become too burdensome. Aw, such liberation to cast off the seeming yoke of bondage, my new found freedoms has liberated me to finally serve God, “The way I want to!!” This spirit then turns around and seeks to destroy those who have decided to keep traveling the Road less traveled: Even, scoffing at them as self-righteous legalists.  Oh, how our hearts can become deceived. I declare this road is likened unto a threshing floor of God, where the wheat is separated from the chaff. For many saints of God that once walked this narrow road, the highway of Holiness has become the process of sifting. The love of this world will cause those to cross over into the world, all the while trying to remain Religious. The pressure to conform will become too great. Many are already living their life on the slippery slope of compromise, and it’s just a matter of time before you find yourself taking the nearest exit.

We must remember, salvation by the new birth experience gets us on the right road to Heaven, but the highway of Holiness will be the course we must take to get us to our destination. The spirit of the age will attempt to flash neon lights begging you to take the exit with newfound freedoms that will enable you to both live for God freely, and at the same time appease your flesh due to the constant weight of the Cross and what is expected of us as a true child of God. May I remind those contemplating taking the nearest exit, or who have simply forgotten the words of God:

Lev 11:44-45 KJV “For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.   For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

To put this passage into proper perspective, God had just brought His people out of Egypt (The world.) They had all the customs and lifestyles of the heathens from Egypt, and he was letting them know “Hey guys, My nature is without sin, and I am a Holy God, so I want you to sanctify yourselves before me, and Be holy because I Am Holy! Now what is the nature of being Holy? The Hebrew lexicon is “Qodesh” which means separated, set apart, sacred, withdrawn from! It’s apparent God was telling his children to separate themselves from the customs, and lifestyles of their previous life. He was commanding them to BE SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD! He also said to sanctify yourselves: The Hebrew lexicon here is “Qadash” meaning to live a life of consecration, to live a life set apart! It is about the pursuit of becoming like Him, the Highway of Holiness is simply a command from God that was originally given to His children soon after He called them out of Egypt! Now one may say we are all resting in the finished work of Calvary, and it’s by the grace of God that we’re saved, not of any works that we can do! As far as salvation goes, It is the grace of God that saves man from the penalty of our sins. Yet, Jesus Christ gave us precise instructions on how to receive salvation, and we know that instruction was given to us by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. This allows us to take on the name of Christ, the death of our flesh is likened unto His death on the cross, and baptism is likened unto the burial of Christ, and The Holy Ghost is the Power we receive likened unto the Power that raised him from the dead, it’s that same spirit that will one day quicken our mortal bodies! So although Christ paid the price for our sins at Calvary, and it’s by His grace we’re saved, He still commanded us to do our part to accept the free gift of salvation. And if you’re wondering about all that Holiness business being necessary today, then Peter answers that question for you!

1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;   Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 

It’s interesting to note Peter repeats the words of God from the passage in Leviticus in which he was speaking to His children, so this tells me what was required of God’s people in the Old Testament is required of us today; there is still a requirement for His people to be holy! Now look at the words in V.15 when Peter admonishes us to be holy in all manner of conversation: This segment is significant because He’s not talking about our speech here, this means in our conduct and lifestyle! Our lifestyle, dress, conduct, and speech will be different from the world: through out scripture, God gives us precise biblical principles that define the life of a Christian, and He commands us to follow them, because The word of God will forever transcend culture and the world’s system.

Let’s glance at another passage of scripture in Hebrews, where the writer explains Holiness!

Hebrews 12:10 KJV “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” 

To put this verse in proper context, the passage up to that point was comparing the chastening of earthly parents to the chastening of God Almighty. The writer points out chastening by God is “for our profit” which means to bear together for our advantage. I love digging into the word of God because it truly comes alive and shows us everything we need to know to help us on this journey called life. When I dug up the meaning “for our profit” one of the meanings was “To Bear Together.” I believe this is one of the many reasons God gave us the church, so we could draw strength from our brothers and sisters and bear the cross together. God knew in our frail humanistic minds, we would need help along the way, and that’s why our brothers and sisters in Christ are so important, we help one another. The reality is, the life of Holiness and sanctification is clearly not the easiest life to live in terms of our flesh; the carnality side of us struggles with the pursuit of living a Holy life because the flesh lusts against the spirit, and that’s why many people fail to see the true beauty in holiness: If we’re always walking in the flesh and not full of His spirit, we will always struggle with Holiness! We must understand everything God requires of us is for our benefit: not partaking of substances such as alcohol and tobacco, and of course drugs will allow us to live a healthy life, speaking life, and honesty, and pure things will enable us to be a true witness for Jesus Christ, living a life of modesty and holiness in our dress will for one protect women from the lustful hearts of men, it will prevent gender identity confusion (Deut 22:5 commands man and woman to dress separate) It will mark us as a true child of God, being a city set on a hill sometimes requires us to be a light which doesn’t make any noise, yet it points you in the right direction. It’s no coincidence strangers will walk up to my wife and I and immediately know we’re children of God, some even want us to pray for them. That’s not to say my wife and I are Holy or super spiritual, but it’s a reflection of the radiance of our Holy God. That’s one of the reasons why we bear the mark by our appearance, we are pointing people to our Heavenly Father! That verse goes onto say “that we might” be partakers of “his holiness.” Hebrew lexicon for partakers means to Participate!!!! To partake of His holiness, it requires our participation and obedience…

I believe God is looking for people that love Him enough not to question what is the minimal required to make it to Heaven, but he’s looking for those who love him so much that they’re willing to go above and beyond what is required. When I married my wife, I never said “I’m going to do the minimal requirements to be married, and that’s it because after all that certificate says I’m married regardless of how I treat my wife….” No, I do all that I do for her not because it’s required of me, but because I love her and I want to please her and make her happy! That’s how relationships work: We travel the highway of Holiness for one because God commands us to Be Holy, also because We love Him and want to please our Heavenly Father. Too many people today ask the wrong questions solely because they’re relationship with God is more on a “do I have to basis?” I promise if we will start asking the right questions, and quit looking for loopholes, that Highway will become a Joy because we know one day we will finally see The Lord at the end! If you’re contemplating taking the nearest exit, ask God to fill your spiritual tank back up and continue traveling on the straight and narrow -A personal revival will do just that!

Hebrews 12:14   KJV “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” 

God bless, JDS